Hobby horsing

Hobby horsing is a hobby with gymnastic elements which uses hobby horses, also known as stick horses.[1][2] Movement sequences similar to those in show jumping or dressage are partly simulated in courses, without real horses being used. The participants predominantly use self-made hobby horses.[3][4][5]

Not to be confused with Hobby horse polo.
Hobby horsing
A hobby horse rider jumping
Characteristics
Mixed-sexYes
TypeHobby, with competitions
EquipmentHobby horse
Presence
Country or regionOriginated in Finland

The hobby was introduced to a wider public through Selma Vilhunen's 2017 film Keppihevosten vallankumous (Hobbyhorse Revolution), [6] which won two awards at the 2017 Tampere Film Festival.[7]

In Finland, the country of origin of the hobby,[8] an annual national championship is held in addition to regional competitions. This sport, which can be classified as a fun and trend hobby, is particularly popular with girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 18[5] years[9] and is gaining popularity beyond the other Nordic countries in other parts of Europe.

While the hobby may be perceived more as a childish pastime by "real riders," Fred Sundwall, secretary general of the Finnish Equestrian Federation, views it positively: "We think it's just wonderful that hobby horsing has become a phenomenon and so popular." "It gives kids and teenagers who don't have horses a chance to interact with them outside of stables and riding schools."[10][11]

A 2022 article in the British equestrian magazine Horse & Hound said that in the UK hobbyhorsing takes place occasionally as a novelty charity fundraising or Pony Club event but that "hobbyhorse competitions are probably more likely to be seen as a bit of fun at a school sports day than as a serious competition".[5] The hobby had spread to Australia by 2016.[12]

Hobby horses

Most hobby horses are sewn by hand. They are usually made of two halves of the head, which have an opening on the lower side, and a strip in the middle and filled with stuffing wool. The head is mounted on a stick, similar to a broom handle. Many hobby horsemen still design their hobby horses in the style of equestrian sports with elements such as snaffles, breastplates, halters, ropes and fly ears.

References
  1. "Definition of HOBBYHORSE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. "hobbyhorse - LEO: Übersetzung im Englisch ⇔ Deutsch Wörterbuch". dict.leo.org. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  3. Barton, Laura (30 April 2019). "Hobbyhorsing: what girls everywhere can learn from the Finnish craze". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  4. "Hobby-horsing is a popular hobby in Finland. 'It's very bizarre for other people to see'". National Post. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  5. Terry, Martha (17 June 2022). "Want to compete, but struggling with horse power? Check out the hobbyhorse championships". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  6. "Hobbyhorse Revolution – Films". Visions du Réel. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  7. Pham, Annika (30 March 2017). "Hobbyhorse Revolution reaches Finnish and world audiences". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  8. Haug, Kitty (10 May 2021). "Hobby Horsing – der neue Trendsport mit Steckenpferd". www.abendblatt.de (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  9. "Aktuelle Nachrichten aus Osnabrück, Melle, Lingen, Papenburg und Umgebung - NOZ | NOZ". noz.de (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  10. Germany, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Stuttgart. "Videos von Mädchen mit Steckenpferden: Hobby Horsing – dieser schräge Trend kommt aus Finnland". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 6 February 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ""Hobby Horsing" ist der wohl verrückteste Sport der Welt". bigFM (in German). 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  12. "How it all started". Hobby Horse Riders. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
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